Page 28 of Chasing Callie

He finishes a round of drinks with a flourish, catching my eye as he slides them across the bar. “I never said you were. Think you can keep up with this?” He grabs two bottles of vodka, flipping one dramatically into the air. It spins twice before he catches it behind his back without looking. The bar erupts in cheers.

I roll my eyes, but my heart speeds up with that competitive fire I’ve never been able to douse. “You call that a trick? I learned that my first week in New York.”

“Oh yeah, princess? Prove it.”

I narrow my eyes, looking at the bottles, and tentatively reach for one then pause, like I’m scared. Jax’s grin widens. The fool thinks he’s won. Sucker. I grab a bottle of tequila and my shaker, taking a deep breath. This will be easy. I’ve done it a hundred times. In one fluid motion, I whip the bottle in a perfect gunslinger twirl, sending it spinning against my palm while I toss the shaker over my shoulder, catching it behind my back without looking.

The crowd murmurs with approval, but I’m not done. I tap the bottle once against my armpit, launch it into the air again, and when it comes down, I catch it on the back of my hand. The bottle balances there for a heartbeat before I flip my hand over, catch the bottle properly, and pour a perfect measure into the shaker.

The bar erupts. Whistles and hollers bounce off the walls. A grin cuts across my face. Yeah, I still got it.

Jax’s eyebrows are at his hairline, those ocean-dark irises wide with surprise and something that looks suspiciously like admiration. “I guess that was pretty cool.”

“You guess?” I ask with an exasperated look. That trick took me weeks to perfect.

He steps closer, voice dropping so only I can hear. “What other tricks did you learn?”

My face bursts into flames. “None that I’m showing you.”

He laughs, that deep rumble that used to make my teenage heart skip. “Is that a dare?”

“Don’t start,” I warn him with a smile that hurts my cheeks. With Knox, it feels like I might shatter. With Brax, it feels intense, but Jax? He makes it easy to forget and that’s more dangerous than the other two. His smile could wipe away ten years of resentment.

“Look at the bartender slut showing off.” The insult slices through the moment like a blade. It came from Derek, the linebacker who spent most of high school trying to get in my pants only to spread rumors when I turned him down. He’s sitting at the end of the bar, beard hiding most of his face, but I’d recognize that sneer anywhere.

You look like a slut, Callie. For a moment, I’m lost between all the times Theo called me vile names and Derek hurling the insult at me now. My smile falls as ice slithers through my veins.

“Bet she learned that trick giving lap dances,” he continues, loud enough for nearby patrons to hear. “You making a new porno tonight, Callie?”

His words are a slap across the face. The reason I left comes rushing back, dousing me in ice water. Something primal and furious rises in me. I’m done with men insulting me, calling me names to make them feel better about their inadequacies. Slut. Slut. Slut. You know what? Fuck Derek. Fuck customer service and kindness. Maybe it’s time to fight back. I grab a water pitcher and fling its contents directly into Derek’s face, nearly crawling on top of the bar to make sure I hit the right target.

“What the FUCK?” he sputters, water dripping from his beard. “You crazy bitch!”

“Oh how original, Derek,” I hiss his name. “Still working with a limp dick?”

His chair screeches back. “You haven’t changed a bit, have you? Still the same trash, flirting with all three Williams brothers. Everyone knows you fucked⁠—”

Suddenly Jax is between us, his back to me, shoulders tensed like a shield. He grabs Derek by the collar. A gasp tumbles past my lips. I didn’t even see him move.

“You better leave while you still have two legs to walk on.” Jax’s voice is hard, a stark contrast to the light-hearted bartender from moments ago.

Derek’s face flushes red beneath his beard. “Of course you’re taking that slut’s side. She still sucking your cock?”

So he did see the video. Embarrassment burns like fire in my cheeks.

“Last warning.” Jax shoves him away. “Get out of my bar before I break both those kneecaps.”

For a tense moment, Derek looks like he might push it further. Then something in Jax’s stance makes him reconsider. He throws some bills on the counter. “Whatever. There’s better beer at Ridge Watering Hole anyway.”

The crowd parts as he storms out. The buzz of excitement turns to murmured speculation, everyone watching to see what I’ll do next. The locals know every sordid detail, but the tourists are the worst. They’re strangers and now they all know my dirty past.

Thanks a fucking lot, Derek.

Jax’s body radiates heat. He’s still positioned in front of me. The protective gesture makes my skin buzz and my heart race for reasons I don’t want to think about. He turns slowly, eyes searching mine. “You okay?”

“Fine.” My voice comes out sharp.

He reaches for me. “Callie.”